/ 


CHICKAMAUGA  AND  CHATTANOOGA  NATIONAL 
MILITARY  PARK  COMMISSION. 


THE  CAMPAIGN  FOR  CHATTANOOGA. 


THE  THEATER  OF  MOVEMENTS,  AND  THE  BATTLEFIELDS, 
AS  SEEN  FROM  THE  POINT  OF  LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN. 


WASHINGTON  : 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE. 

1902. 


Richard  Barksdale  Harwell 


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CHICKAMAUGA  AND  CHATTANOOGA  NATIONAL  MILITARY  PARK  AND  APPROACHES. 


THE  NORRIS  PETERS  CO  . PHOTO-L.ThO  . WASHINGTON.  O.  C 


CHICKAMAUGA  AND  CHATTANOOGA  NATIONAL 
MILITARY  PARK  COMMISSION. 


THE  CAMPAIGN  FOR  CHATTANOOGA. 


THE  THEATER  OF  MOVEMENTS,  AND  THE  BATTLEFIELDS, 
AS  SEEN  FROM  THE  POINT  OF  LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN. 


WASH  INGTON  : 
GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE. 


I 902 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/campaignforchattOOchic 


CAMPAIGNS  AND  BATTLES  ABOUT  CHATTANOOGA. 

( Confederate  forces  designated  by  italics . ) 


The  principal  localities  connected  with  the  battles  around 
Chattanooga,  as  seen  from  the  north  point  of  Lookout  Moun- 
tain, are  these: 

The  distant  mountain  ranges  to  the  north  and  west  are  the 
Cumberlands.  The  range  north  of  Chattanooga,  skirting  the 
Tennessee  Valley  on  the  west,  is  Waldens  Ridge,  which  is 
separated  from  the  main  range  of  the  Cumberlands  by  the 
deep  gorge  of  the  Sequatchie  Valley.  The  first  range  east  of 
Lookout  is  Missionary  Ridge.  To  the  southeast  and  3 miles 
east  of  Missionary  Ridge  lies  the  battlefield  of  Chickamauga. 
Halfway  from  the  eastern  limits  of  Chattanooga  to  Missionary 
Ridge  is  Orchard  Knob.  Moccasin  Point  is  in  the  great  bend 
of  the  Tennessee  River  opposite  Lookout.  The  river  flows 
from  Chattanooga  toward  Lookout.  Browns  Ferry  is  about 
a mile  above  Williams  Island,  which  is  the  only  island  visible 
west  of  Moccasin  Point.  Chattanooga  Valley  and  Creek  are 
immediately  east  of  the  mountain,  and  Lookout  Valley  and 
Creek  west  of  it.  Wauhatchie  Station  is  at  the  intersection 
of  the  railroads  in  Lookout  Valley,  and  the  battlefield  of 
Wauhatchie  is  at  the  first  crossroads  north  of  that  point. 
Rossville  Gap  is  in  Missionary  Ridge  to  the  southeast,  and 
McFarlands  Gap  2x/2  miles  south  of  Rossville. 


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4 Campaigns  and  Battles  about  Chattanooga. 

Chattanooga  had  long  been  the  objective  of  the  Union  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  Its  final  campaign  for  that  city  opened 
August  1 6,  1863,  and  ended  September  22  with  the  permanent 
occupation  of  the  city. 

When  this  latter  campaign  began,  General  Bragg , command- 
ing the  Confederate  Army  of  Tennessee,  held  Chattanooga. 
General  Rosecrans,  commanding  the  Union  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, was  established  along  the  western  base  of  the  Cumber- 
land Mountains  60  miles  from  Chattanooga  by  the  mountain 
trails,  his  lines  extending  from  Winchester  to  McMinnville, 
with  both  flanks  further  extended  by  cavalry.  His  army  was 
composed  of  three  corps,  the  left  under  Crittenden  at  McMinn- 
ville, the  center  at  Decherd  under  George  H.  Thomas,  and  the 
right  under  Alex.  McCook  at  Winchester. 

The  campaign  on  the  part  of  the  Union  Army  involved  cutting 
loose  from  its  base,  carrying  twenty-five  days’  rations  and 
ammunition  for  two  battles,  crossing  three  ranges  of  mountains 
and  the  Tennessee  River,  all  within  the  enemy’s  lines,  each 
range  of  mountains  being  of  the  same  character  as  Lookout. 

The  only  possibility  of  success  was  through  a diversion  which 
should  conceal  the  real  movement  from  General  Bragg  until  it 
was  fully  developed. 

The  left  corps  (Crittenden’s)  of  the  Union  Army  was  there- 
fore thrown  over  the  Cumberlands  from  McMinnville,  and  sev- 
eral of  its  brigades  were  extended  along  their  eastern  escarp- 
ment to  light  fires  at  night,  while  other  brigades  descended 
into  the  valley,  opened  at  long  range  with  artillery  upon  the 
city,  and  feinted  at  building  boats  for  bridges.  As  General 
Burnside  with  a Union  army  was  at  Knoxville,  farther  up  the 
Tennessee  Valley,  this  move  of  the  left  of  Rosecrans’  army 


Campaigns  and  Battles  about  Chattanooga.  5 

naturally  appeared  to  be  to  form  a junction  of  these  two  armies 
above  Chattanooga.  General  Bragg  was  misled  by  it,  and 
moved  a large  force  up  the  river  to  fortify  the  fords  for  a long 
distance. 

Meantime  the  center  and  right  of  Rosecrans’  army  had 
crossed  the  Cumberlands  some  30  miles  below  Chattanooga, 
bridged  the  Tennessee  River,  and  crossed  the  Sand  or  Raccoon 
Mountains  into  the  valley  west  of  Uookout.  Thomas’  corps, 
moving  26  miles  up  the  valley  to  the  first  available  trail  for 
wheels,  ascended  Uookout.  McCook’s  corps,  continuing  to 
Valley  Head,  42  miles  south  of  Chattanooga,  where  the  next 
available  trail  crossed  the  mountain,  pushed  over  Uookout. 
When  the  heads  of  the  Union  columns  reached  the  summit 
of  the  Uookout  Range,  General  Bragg  evacuated  Chattanooga 
and  proceeded  to  Uafayette,  26  miles  south  and  behind  the 
next  range  east  of  Uookout,  thus  saving  his  communications 
and  enabling  him  to  confront  the  Union  columns  as  they 
emerged  from  the  mountain  passes.  Meantime,  Crittenden’s 
corps  had  been  rapidly  withdrawn  to  the  river  behind  the 
outlying  range  of  Waldens  Ridge,  and  crossing  the  Raccoon 
Mountains  came  down  into  Uookout  Valley,  and  in  a recon- 
noissance  to  the  northern  slope  of  Tookout  discovered  that 
Chattanooga  was  evacuated.  He  moved  one  division  into  it, 
and  with  the  rest  of  his  corps  followed  Bragg  through  Rossville 
and  to  the  crossing  of  the  Chickamauga  River  at  Lee  & Gor- 
don’s mill,  where  he  was  joined  with  the  force  left  at  Chatta- 
nooga the  day  before,  one  brigade  only  being  retained  in  the  city. 

Rosecrans,  acting  under  information  from  his  right  that 
Bragg  was  retreating  on  Rome,  ordered  pursuit,  but  imme- 
diately found  Bragg  concentrating  for  battle.  The  latter, 


6 Campaigns  and  Battles  abotit  Chattanooga. 

being  reenforced  by  a part  of  Long street' s corps  from  Vir- 
ginia, moved  to  interpose  between  Rosecrans  and  Chattanooga 
Rosecrans  by  a night  march  thrust  his  army  between  Bragg 
and  that  city.  The  two  days’  battle  of  Chickamauga,  which 
was  the  battle  for  Chattanooga,  followed,  each  army  attempt- 
ing to  secure  the  roads  to  the  city.  At  its  close  the  Confed- 
erates held  these  roads.  But  General  Thomas,  who  remained 
in  command  of  the  Union  Army  (General  Rosecrans  having 
been  cut  off  with  a portion  of  his  right  wing),  withdrew  it 
through  McFarlands  Gap,  and  passing  behind  Missionary 
Ridge  to  Rossville  Gap  re-formed  his  lines  in  that  gap  along 
the  ridge  and  across  the  valley  to  Lookout  Mountain,  thus 
firmly  establishing  himself  between  Bragg  and  Chattanooga. 
The  next  night  he  marched  into  the  city  and  the  objective 
of  the  campaign  was  won. 

General  Bragg  advanced  at  once,  occupied  Lookout  Mountain 
and  lines  reaching  from  its  foot  across  the  valley  and  along  the 
base  of  Missionary  Ridge  to  the  river  above.  As  supplies  could 
only  reach  the  Union  Army  by  wagon  trains  over  the  mountains 
from  Bridgeport,  rations  grew  .short.  The  river  line  of  sup- 
plies was  therefore  reopened  by  a plan  of  General  Rosecrans. 
General  Hooker,  who  had  been  brought  to  Bridgeport  from  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  command  of  the  Eleventh  and 
Twelfth  corps,  came  forward  with  a portion  of  his  force  to 
Wauhatchie,  defeated  a division  of  Long street' s corps  October 
28  at  that  point,  and  with  the  cooperating  forces  from  Chatta- 
nooga under  the  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  W.  F.  Smith,  at 
Browns  Ferry,  secured  and  held  Lookout  Valley.  Full  sup- 
plies thereafter  reached  Chattanooga  by  way  of  the  river  and 
the  short  haul  from  Kelly  and  Browns  ferries.  Sherman,  with 


Campaigns  and  Battles  about  Chattanooga.  7 

four  divisions,  was  ordered  up  from  Vicksburg,  Grant  was  put 
in  command  of  the  forces  about  Chattanooga,  and  Rosecrans 
was  superseded  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
by  General  Thomas. 

The  battle  of  Chattanooga  occupied  three  days.  November 
23  General  Thomas,  with  five  divisions,  advanced  upon  Orchard 
Knob  from  the  eastern  limits  of  the  city  and  carried  it  and 
Bragg's  exterior  line  through  the  valley.  During  the  night  of 
the  23d  General  Sherman  crossed  his  forces  over  the  river  and  the 
next  day  occupied  the  hills  at  the  north  end  of  Missionary  Ridge. 

November  24  General  Hooker,  with  three  divisions,  assaulted 
Lookout  Mountain  from  the  valley  west  of  it,  and  carried  the 
western  and  northern  slopes  below  the  palisades  to  the  Cravens 
House.  During  the  night  the  Confederate  force  withdrew  from 
the  eastern  slopes  and  the  top  of  the  mountain  and  joined  the 
rest  of  Bragg's  forces  on  Missionary  Ridge. 

November  25  Sherman  unsuccessfully  assaulted  the  enemy’s 
position  in  his  front.  At  3.15  p.  m.  four  divisions  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  stormed  Missionary  Ridge  in  the  center, 
and  in  an  hour  carried  the  works  at  its  foot  and  3 miles  of 
its  crest,  capturing  37  guns  and,  in  connection  with  Hooker’s 
three  divisions  at  the  south  end  of  the  ridge,  taking  nearly 
2,000  prisoners.  Bragg's  army  retreated  to  Dalton,  39  miles 
south.  The  Union  Army  thereafter  held  Chattanooga  to  the 
close  of  the  war. 

The  battlefields  of  Chickamauga  and  Lookout  Mountain  and 
the  crest  of  Missionary  Ridge  for  8 miles  have  been  acquired  by 
the  National  Government,  and,  together  with  many  miles  of 
the  roads  by  which  the  armies  reached  or  left  these  fields,  have 
been  established  as  a National  Military  Park.  The  central 


8 Campaigns  and  Battles  about  Chattanooga . 

driveway  is  30  miles  in  length.  Throughout  its  extent  it  either 
passes  through  or  overlooks  fields  of  notable  fighting.  The 
park  embraces  six  battlefields.  The  Government  has,  thus  far, 
expended  $1,000,000  upon  it.  Through  the  cooperation  of 
26  State  commivSsions,  including  all  the  late  Confederate  States, 
with  the  National  Commission  having  the  establishment  of  the 
park  in  charge,  all  lines  of  battle  have  been  identified  and 
marked  with  monuments  and  historical  tablets.  Guns  of  the 
same  pattern  as  those  used  in  the  battle  have  been  mounted 
upon  carriages  at  each  position  of  artillery  fighting.  The 
positions  of  every  regiment  and  battery  engaged  have  been 
ascertained  and  marked.  There  are  separate  historical  tablets 
for  each  army,  corps,  division,  brigade,  and  battery,  giving  the 
organization  and  commanders  of  each,  while  the  brigade  tablets 
give  the  designations  and  the  commanding  officers  of  the  indi- 
vidual regiments.  This  marking  includes  both  Union  and  Con- 
federate armies,  and  the  treatment  of  each  is  in  every  respect 
the  same.  The  improved  roads  of  the  park  are  73  miles  in 
length.  The  legal  area  of  the  Chickamauga  portion  of  the 
park  is  10,000  acres.  The  Government  purchases  the  land, 
builds  the  roads,  erects  the  batteries  and  historical  tablets  and 
the  monuments  to  the  regular  troops.  It  also  controls  all 
designs,  inscriptions,  and  troop  locations,  this  supervision  being 
directed  to  insuring  historical  accuracy.  The  respective  States 
erect  the  monuments  and  markers  to  their  volunteer  troops. 
This  is  believed  to  be  the  first  military  park  where  the  veterans 
of  contending  armies  have  met  to  identify  their  positions  and 
erect  monuments  to  the  valor  of  those  engaged. 

There  are  680  monuments  and  markers  erected  in  the  park, 
1,011  tablets,  and  250  guns.  There  were  engaged  at  Chicka- 


Campaigns  and  Battles  about  Chattanooga.  9 

mauga  on  the  Union  side  129  regiments  of  infantry,  18  regi- 
ments of  cavalry,  6 regiments  of  mounted  infantry,  and  35 
batteries  of  artillery.  On  the  Confederate  side  there  were 
engaged  138  regiments  of  infantry,  33  of  cavalry,  25  inde- 
pendent battalions  of  infantry,  8 independent  companies  of 
cavalry,  and  41  batteries  of  artillery. 

At  Chattanooga  the  Union  Army  comprised  220  regiments 
of  infantry,  5 of  cavalry,  2 regiments  of  mounted  infantry,  and 
36  batteries  of  artillery.  Bragg  appeared  before  Chattanooga 
with  163  regiments  and  21  independent  battalions  of  infantry,  • 
33  regiments  and  6 squadrons  of  cavalry,  and  46  batteries  of 
artillery.  Before  the  battle  44  regiments  and  9 battalions  of 
infantry,  and  12  batteries,  of  Long  street' s and  Buckner's  Corps, 
were  sent  to  Knoxville,  and  all  of  the  cavalry  was  operating 
either  in  Bast  Tennessee  or  on  the  Union  lines  of  communication. 

For  the  Commission : 

H.  V.  Boynton,  Chairman. 


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